Redwarsocia lies in the warm middle sea, just south of the fabled Pangean passage, that joined that sea to the cold Northern sea.
Many people's settler this flower shaped island, and crops and livestock flourished. As competition for this highly soft after land grew, so arguments grew into conflicts, until a treaty was drawn up.
This treaty split the land into 8 outlying provinces, and a central communal province, where they built a great city for their Capital.
Each province was ruled by different factions, each led by a King. Ambassadors from each province would represent their people in the Capital council.
No province was strong enough to take on the rest of Redwarsocia, so a peace was reached for thousands of years.

Then the invaders came. No one knew from whence, they arrived from the skies in giant iron birds of prey. Distorting troops that breathed might and fire, they slaughtered everything in sight.
The provinces marshalled their men, and met the invaders in battle. Time and again the armies of Redwarsocia were massacred, until the only options left were annihilation or surrender.

The people were needed like cattle, a valuable food source for the invaders. All looked lost, the end as they knew it.
Then salvation came from an unlikely source. A black ship appeared off the coast of New Sparta. A single longboat was launched, the occupants clad in black, surrounded by just.
The Greeks of New Sparta met the boat on the shore, as they disembarked, their leader pushed down his black cowl, revealing a pale, drawn skeletal face.
He announced himself as Itchianus ,a Dark Lord of the Sur Ring, and he had come to save Redwarsocia, and remove the Invaders forever. Of course only if his price would be met.
In desperation the Spartans agreed, without asking what the price would be.
Itchianus then called forth his host, dark creatures from myths and legends. Orcs, Wyrms, Ogres, monsters and horrors all.
Clad in their strange black must, Itchianus and his army confronted the Invaders. Battle after battle, but eventually the Invaders were pushed back , their fantastic weaponry no match for Itchianus and his dark sorcery.

With the Invaders wiped out, Itchianus summoned the surviving Kings, and named his price. The price was to install himself as the first Emperor of Redwarsocia, his castle to be built inside the capital. Each King would retain their lands, but 10% of their revenue would be sent to the Capital, as a thankyou. Also Itchianus could demand any person sent to his castle.
This was not entirely surprising to the men gathered there, as most of their lands were a blood soaked mess,so they agreed.
All but one. King Leonides of Sparta left the meeting in a fury, and promised retribution.
He returned to the remains of his loyal army, and marched back to the Capital.
They were met by Itchianus and his dark silent host. No command was given, but the black horde charged forward.
The battle was short but bloody, and not one Spartan was left standing. The victors then marched into Sparta itself, killing all and razing the land to the ground.
A harsh lesson , but one the other Monarchs paid attention to. No more rebellion was ever discussed.
And so life passed. A black fortress, with a tall black tower was quickly built, and there Itchianus spent his time. Various young Nobles were summoned to the Castle to serve, and were never seen again.
Years and decades passed, and this became normal, resource production increased to provide Itchianus his tithe.
Every 5 years or so 2 Kings were ordered to war on each other, always under the pretense of honour. In reality any aspiring heroes were identified and wittled away.
King Darius of Persia had publicly been very compliant to Itchianus, and even doubled the tax he sent to the Capital. But in reality he had spent years plotting the downfall of Itchianus.

In secret, using only his most trusted aides, King Darius assembled a party of warriors, their sole purpose to assassinate the Emperor. Their names live on in myths and legends, you may even heard of some.
Arthur Pendragon, Robin of Loxley, Beowulf, Conan, Joan of the Arch and others.

These fine, brave souls were never seen again. Shortly after they entered the Black Citadel, it collapsed in a cloud of fire and dust. Efforts by Itchianus's men to dig any survivors out failed. No living thing crawled out of the debris.
Panic set in, both with the citizenry and the military. Looting, murder and arson quickly spread through the Capital, reaching every small nook. Outlaws and bandits, many former employees of Itchianus, now roam the land, chaos rules.
Now is the time to take back control, now is the time to seize power.
Are you ready? Are you able?
Strike now before someone else does.